Chapter 10: Trials(2)
It was strange how the same people who had been cheering for him, congratulating him, and wishing him luck just a few days ago were now standing before him, their faces filled with suspicion and wariness.
Hades couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly at how fragile human trust is. A single mistake, and the hero everyone had celebrated turned into the worst villain in their eyes.
Yet, he couldn’t blame them. He had made a mistake, and now he had to face the consequences of his actions.
He had to bear the weight of his friend’s death.
"Alright then, let’s begin with a very simple question," said the man who had been given the chance to lead this trial. He was the Supreme Advisor of the royal court—Saber Ross.
Pressing the bridge of his glasses, he turned to Hades and spoke in a voice that carried to every corner of the cathedral.
"Tell us, student Hades, were you informed of how many dragons you would face in the mining field?"
Hades nodded. "Yes, around eighteen. But we were never told about the Duke-ranked dragon."
The Minister narrowed his eyes. "We’ll get to the Duke-ranked later. First, let me confirm something." Crossing his hands behind his back, he continued, "You were informed that morning that the healer—a crucial member of any team—was unavailable, yet you still chose to begin the raid. Yes or no?"
Hades clenched his teeth, fully aware of what this line of questioning was leading to. But lying now would be pointless. Unless the team commander gave the green light, the team wouldn’t have moved into the field.
"Yes, I chose to proceed," Hades said, "but I took the best healer from the Beta team. She’s worked with us before, so she was able to—"